Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP, a national law firm, is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Minneapolis which expands the firm’s footprint to 28 offices in 17 states.

Constangy has named Piyumi Samaratunga, a leading corporate immigration attorney, to head the new office which will focus primarily on corporate immigration and global mobility. “Piyumi brings an unparalleled set of skills with her experience in international law, the corporate sector and as an immigrant. Her strong business aptitude and knowledge of global corporate immigration law will enhance Constangy’s position as a key strategic business partner for employers adapting to the rapidly changing diverse global workforce,” said Neil Wasser, Chair of the firm’s Executive Committee. More >>

Faegre Baker Daniels is representing holding company Capmark Financial Group Inc. in the acquisition by its wholly owned subsidiary Bluestem Brands of Orchard Brands Corporation in a $410 million cash sale. The parties entered a definitive agreement on May 27 and the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is also acting as counsel to Capmark in this matter. More >>

International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP announced today that I. Daniel Colton has joined the Firm’s Regulatory Affairs Group in Minneapolis as a Partner.

Mr. Colton has practiced law for over 25 years and has deep experience in mining, regulatory affairs and environmental law. Most recently, he served as General Counsel and Vice President of Regulatory and Legal Affairs at Twin Metals Minnesota (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Antofagasta PLC), where he worked with federal, state and local regulatory agencies in connection with the company’s proposed copper, nickel and Platinum Group Metals mining development project in Northern Minnesota. Before joining Twin Metals in 2011, Mr. Colton was a partner in the law firm of Leonard, Street & Deinard (today, Stinson Leonard Street), where he served clients in the mining industry including business and regulatory transactions, mining and mineral law matters, environmental regulation, permitting and risk management, natural resources and complex civil and regulatory litigation. Before his legal career, Mr. Colton worked in the southwestern United States as a consultant to industry. More >>

Faegre Baker Daniels is representing Life Time Fitness, Inc. in its sale to affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, TPG Capital, and several other investors including Life Time’s chairman and CEO Bahram Akradi, for an aggregate value of approximately $4 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015. More >>

Lindquist & Vennum client Graco Inc. recently announced its entry into a definitive agreement with Carlisle Companies Incorporated, pursuant to which Graco has agreed to sell, in a $590 million cash deal, the finishing brands business it acquired from Illinois Tool Works Inc. in April 2012. Graco reported that it expects the transaction to close no later than the first quarter 2015. Graco has been holding separate the finishing brands business by order of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Attorneys Joe Humke and Chuck Moorse are leading the Lindquist team in representing Graco on the transaction.

Faegre Baker Daniels is representing General Mills in acquiring Annie’s, Inc., a leading producer of organic and natural food products. General Mills announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement on Sept. 8, and the transaction, with an approximate aggregate value of $820 million, is expected to close by the end of 2014. More >>